"Dress for your day." You may have heard this phrase used in your HR department lately. Companies are adopting this trending dress code to help their employees feel more comfortable at work.
In theory, it sounds great: Instead of a blanket policy for everyone to follow, you now have the flexibility to wear an outfit that's most appropriate for the activities you have scheduled that day. (For example, meeting with an important client? Dress up. Working from home on virtual calls? Feel free to be casual. In the office with your co-workers all day? A look in between will do.)
But are you really more comfortable if you don't know what's appropriate to wear when?
Without clear guidelines on how to dress for work, deciding what to wear becomes a stressful way to start your day — not to mention the anxiety that ensues when you choose incorrectly. Imagine walking into a "business casual" meeting only to realize you've wrongly interpreted this ambiguous term as just plain "casual." Now you're left feeling self-conscious and uncomfortable all day.
That's why I created a simple structure to help you easily get dressed each morning so you can stop asking yourself, "Is this OK to wear today?"
Before I break down each situation and its matching outfit formula, I want to remind you of two things:
1. The old adage: "Dress for the job you want." It's so important and so true. Your appearance speaks to your professionalism and trustworthiness, so you need to look the part.
2. It's better to be overdressed than underdressed. If you've ever walked into a meeting or event underdressed, you know how true this is. As I mentioned before, the last thing you want is to be self-conscious and distracted during an important meeting.
Important situations call for your best outfit. If you're meeting with a client or important co-worker, presenting at a big meeting, in a more traditional and conservative industry, or want to impress, then Business Professional is the route for you. This style of outfit sends the message that you mean business and are very put-together. A business professional look focuses on formality, tailoring and dressing up — that's why a blazer or jacket is a must here. It typically embodies a more muted color palette of blues, neutrals and reds; traditional patterns (think plaids and stripes); and keeps things simple and clean (a less-is-more theme).
Ladies, your Business Professional outfit should comprise:
● Dress pants, a dress skirt or a work-appropriate dress (to the top of your knees)
● Paired with a dressy blouse
● Neutral closed-toe heels or flats
● And, most importantly, a blazer
Men, you'd want to wear:
● Dress pants
● A dress shirt
● Leather belt and matching shoes
● Tie
● And, most importantly, a blazer
Pro tip: No need to match your blazer with your bottoms these days; just make sure you're wearing one if this is the message you need to send today.
Working for a more progressive company, plan on a normal day at the office with your co-workers or want to make sure you don't come off too stuffy at your client meeting today? Then a Business Casual look is best for you. Most find Business Casual to be an ambiguous dress code, so it's often misinterpreted, but I have a simple and clear definition for it. A Business Casual outfit is just like a Business Professional outfit except a jacket is not required. Take note: Jeans are not appropriate under this dress code. If you're looking to wear jeans, then the next description is the one for you. On the flip side, if you're asked to wear business casual, leave the jeans in your closet. If your day calls for this look, expect to send the message that you're polished but more relaxed (and, in some cases, more relatable).
Ladies, plan to wear:
● Dress pants, a dress skirt or a work-appropriate dress (to the top of your knees)
● Paired with a dressy blouse
● Closed-toe heels or flats
● And a fun piece of jewelry
Men, go with:
● Dress pants
● A dress shirt (you can cuff the sleeves for a more relaxed look)
● And a leather belt and matching shoes
Pro tip: Consider infusing bolder colors and patterns into these looks as long as you stick to dressier fabrics and styles.
Often, Smart Casual gets confused with Business Casual, so I want to provide a distinct difference. A Smart Casual look bases an outfit around dark-wash denim jeans, whereas a Business Casual look sticks to traditional business wear. If you want to project a relaxed and casual image without looking sloppy (and work in a creative industry, small business or even Silicon Valley type of company), then wear one of these looks today.
Ladies, your outfits will look like:
● Dark-wash denim jeans
● Paired with a dressy blouse
● Closed-toe heels or flats
● A fun piece of jewelry
● And, most importantly, a blazer, jacket or cardigan
Men, you'll be wearing:
● Dark-wash denim jeans
● A collared shirt
● A leather belt and matching shoes
● And, most importantly, a blazer, jacket or quarter-zip
Pro tip: Feel free to play with bright colors, unique textures and fun patterns with this dress code. Since it's more casual, you have a lot more freedom with it.
Last but not least, your day might require you to wear a Casual outfit. Casual outfits are typically worn in roles where workplace safety and function are your main focus, but could also be a great option if you're working from home. We're talking cotton shirts that breathe and aren't restrictive, comfortable shoes (like sneakers) and all-purpose pants that you won't think about all day. The biggest requirement here is to make sure your pieces fit well. This way you have the function you need but can still project a polished look with little effort or discomfort.
For ladies, we're talking:
● Dark-wash denim jeans or chinos
● Paired with a comfortable shirt
● Functional sneakers or flats
● And a simple piece of jewelry
Guys, plan to wear:
● Dark-wash denim jeans or chinos
● Paired with a cotton tee or casual shirt
● Functional sneakers
● And a belt if necessary
At the end of the day, don't forget to be more overdressed than underdressed, even if you're casual. This is still a workplace after all.
Megan Moran is owner and wardrobe stylist at The Style Foundry.
https://www.crainscleveland.com/young-professionals-blog/dress-your-day
2019-07-26 14:25:44Z
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